[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_custom_headline level=”h1″ looks_like=”h2″ accent=”false” style=”color: hsl(33, 97%, 50%);”]Inactive British Kids [/x_custom_headline][cs_text]Recent articles in the Telegraph and Daily Mail have highlighted the problems of inactive kids in the United Kingdom in regards to the fitness of its children. British children have been rated at a D- in England and Wales and a F in comparison to some of the worlds leading countries such as New Zealand, Slovenia and South Africa.
So what is the problem?
Having highlighted a number of situations we already see at the Academy and why we are educating kids and parents about these things.
Kids simply aren’t getting enough exercise and are to inactive, as I mentioned in our posts on Obesity and Phones, time is being drained by other things and it seems it is not only us who see this happening.
Just recently Laura Donnelly, in the article “British children among the least active in the world, with exercise ‘stripped out’ of modern lives”
Quotes Dr Steven Mann the research director at UK Active:
“Today’s children are the least active ever and face a ticking time-bomb of health issues that puts them at serious risk of having shorter lives than their parents….
“Movement has been stripped out of modern living, meaning Generation Inactive are driven to school and fed a staple diet of sofa play and screen time, while being starved of outdoor activities.” – Donnelly, L. Nov 20th/2016: The Telegraph
We try to educate our kids that being active is a positive lifestyle choice. They may not all grow up to be a professional footballer, but at least when they come out of our Academy they will know about taking care of themselves, the benefits of eating well and exercising regularly.
The Academy also encourages players to come to our gym sessions to learn about using their bodies in different ways. Covering aspects from fundamental movement, resistance training, posture, explosive throws and jumps – our focus is on the complete athlete and moving the body well.
What can you do as a parent?
One of the biggest things parents can do, is to start getting their schools to place a larger emphasis on physical activity and getting their kids active.
The research that supports exercise and increased cognitive ability is beyond question now, students who exercise and study are better students on an individual basis.
If more schools approached sport for example like Westfield Sports High, and Newington College in Australia where every child participates in sports on some level, we would see a better outcome in these studies.
Play sports or do activities with your children from an early age.
this is a key I believe to developing good habits early on, so much so that many kids who experience this consider it abnormal to not be doing something active – not to mention the fun of playing with your parents.
Encourage your kids to be active in activities or sports they enjoy and support them in doing it.
Wether it’s on a football or rugby pitch, a skate board, in a gymnastics or dance class, out on a bike being active or climbing up something being active is the key. Support for kids from parents positively reinforces this.
Personally I only remember my Dad missing one game of rugby my entire career from age 7 to 28, and that’s because he was in another country. My mother was also an avid supporter and came to more or less 90% of my games.
Having that support makes a big difference, especially in a young child’s life not to mention see your child progress and develop along the way.
I’ll sum this article up with a simple quote that we have all heard time and time again, its one of the oldest… so maybe they knew something then that people have forgotten now.
“A Healthy Body Equals a Healthy Mind”
Linked posts
Obesity – A growing problem we tackle
Sleep – Are your kids getting enough?
[/cs_text][x_share title=”Share this Post” share_title=”” facebook=”true” twitter=”true” google_plus=”false” linkedin=”true” pinterest=”false” reddit=”false” email=”true” email_subject=”Hey, thought you might enjoy this! Check it out when you have a chance:”][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]
